Chapter 299: Susan is Horrified! Five Million for a Scratch?
[Name]: Lin Xiang
[Age]: 18 years old
[Background]: Child of Destiny in "Soaring Youth." Lin Xiang's grades aren't ideal. He's wild and untamed, loves skipping classes, fighting, and rock music. But beneath his rebellious exterior lies a sensitive, artistic heart. He secretly writes love poems for magazines and has a crush on the school beauty, Susan. However, this budding romance, which hadn't yet blossomed, withered when Susan died in an accidental car crash, and grief flowed like a river...
[Cultivation]: Weakling
[Abilities]: Beginner fighting skills, Intermediate literary skills, Advanced class-skipping skills...
[Personality]: Wild and untamed, rebellious and free
[Items]: Bicycle...
[Associated Heroine]: Susan
[Destiny Value]: 400,000
...
"He really is a Child of Destiny, so don't blame me."
Shen Anyu sat inside the cockpit of his limited edition Bugatti Veyron "La Finale." The interior was a sanctuary of Havana leather and polished aluminum, smelling faintly of luxury and cold indifference. He pinched his chin, his dark eyes deep and abyssal behind his sunglasses, as he looked through the tinted windshield at the young boy and girl pedaling their bikes side by side on the riverside road.
They were chatting and laughing, the very picture of innocent youth. Sunlight danced in their hair, and the breeze carried their carefree voices. It was a scene straight out of a campus romance drama.
"But even if it wasn't for that reason, he had no intention of letting go of such an incomparably beautiful girl."
Shen Anyu was very honest with himself; he was depraved, he was craving. He was a villain, after all. Why should he deny his desires?
Susan. The school beauty. Even from a distance, her aura was blindingly pure. She wore a simple white school uniform shirt and a pleated plaid skirt that danced in the wind, revealing slender, fair calves. Her ponytail swayed rhythmically with her pedaling, exposing a neck as graceful as a swan's. She was the embodiment of a "White Moonlight"—the first love every man dreams of but can never touch.
"400,000 Destiny Value, with no room for growth and no powerful background or strength. He's the weakest Child of Destiny I've ever encountered," Shen Anyu mused, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
"Are they the male and female leads of a tragic youth campus novel? Where the girl dies, and the boy learns the pain of growing up?"
A cruel, playful smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Too bad, they met me, the great devil!"
"No, wait. Thankfully they met me, this great Child of Destiny! Otherwise, wouldn't it be a pity for such a pure and beautiful girl to die in an accidental car crash later in the plot? I am practically their savior."
Shen Anyu thought for a moment, justifying his upcoming actions with twisted logic. Saving her life by taking her for himself—it was a fair trade, wasn't it?
In an instant, his eyes narrowed slightly. Invisible energy rippled from his mind.
[God-level Telekinesis] was activated. It transformed into an invisible, formless hand of wind, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
...
On the riverside path.
"Susan, let's bike to Riverside Park. I heard there's a beautiful fireworks display in the evening, it'll be lovely."
The young Lin Xiang gazed admiringly at the girl's exquisite profile. His heart was pounding against his ribs, louder than the rhythm of his pedaling. He felt like the coolest guy in the world right now—skipping class, riding bikes with the most beautiful girl in school, the wind in his face. His wild and untamed voice unconsciously softened, becoming tender and shy.
"Okay, I'm really looking forward to it too."
The girl, Susan, noticed the young Lin Xiang's furtive glances. Her cheeks flushed slightly, like peach blossoms in spring. After a moment of hesitation, biting her lower lip, she nodded in agreement.
She thought to herself, 'You idiot Lin Xiang, don't stare so obviously, it's so embarrassing. If the teachers see us, we're done for.'
But inside, she felt a sweetness spreading in her chest.
"Haha, as long as you like it, the fireworks will be beautiful, I guarantee it!"
Lin Xiang heard that Susan, his beloved goddess, school beauty, and childhood friend, had agreed to what was essentially a date. He was so happy that adrenaline flooded his brain.
"Woohoo!"
In a burst of youthful bravado, he let go of the handlebars with both hands, sitting upright and spreading his arms wide as if embracing the whole world. The wind rushed past him, carrying the scent of the river and freedom.
He was overjoyed. He had the ring in his pocket—a cheap silver band he saved up for months to buy. He was planning to confess to Susan at the riverside fireworks display in the evening, under the explosion of colors.
Watching Lin Xiang laugh heartily, showing off like a peacock, Susan's beautiful eyes also softened. She smiled, a breathtaking sight that outshone the sun.
"Be careful, Lin Xiang!" she called out softly.
Just then.
As if a strange, targeted gust of wind blew from nowhere—a force unnatural and precise—the front wheel of Lin Xiang's bicycle suddenly jerked.
It veered violently off course, heading straight towards the main road where a black beast of a car was slowly cruising.
"Ah?!"
Lin Xiang's expression panicked. The joy vanished instantly, replaced by sheer terror. He quickly grabbed the handlebars, his knuckles turning white, frantically preparing to adjust direction and brake.
But it was too late. The momentum was too great, and the invisible force pushed him just an inch further.
SCREEEEEEECH!
A chilling, ear-piercing sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the peaceful riverside. It was the sound of money burning.
The bicycle's pedal and handlebar raked across the side of the black car.
Lin Xiang managed to stop, his foot slamming onto the asphalt, panting heavily.
"It's over..."
Looking at the luxury car in front of him, Lin Xiang was drenched in cold sweat. His mind went blank. The adrenaline turned into ice in his veins.
The car was low, wide, and looked more like a spaceship than a vehicle. It was painted in a deep, lustrous black carbon fiber that absorbed the light. But now, that pristine perfection was marred.
The originally luxurious black convertible Bugatti Veyron had a long, jagged scratch on its right side door and fender, easily over a meter long. The silver metal beneath the paint was exposed, looking like a hideous scar on a beautiful face.
Although Lin Xiang was just a student and couldn't recognize the specific model or the "La Finale" badge, seeing how lavish, grand, and intimidating the car was, how could he not know that he was in deep trouble?
"This... this looks expensive..." he whispered, his voice trembling.
Susan also turned pale. She stopped her bike, her hands covering her mouth in shock. She was completely stunned, never expecting such a thing to happen in a split second. The romantic atmosphere shattered into a million pieces.
The driver's door opened.
A long leg clad in perfectly tailored trousers stepped out, followed by a figure that seemed to radiate light.
"Why were you two so careless? You scratched my car. Are you hurt?"
Just then, a gentle, magnetic voice came from the luxury car. It wasn't angry. It wasn't shouting. It was calm, cultured, and filled with concern.
Susan looked up, her teary eyes meeting the stranger's.
She saw a handsome and dashing older brother. He was tall, wearing a high-end grey suit that fit him like a second skin. His hair was styled perfectly, and he had a face that looked like it was carved by angels—sharp jawline, deep eyes, and a bridge of the nose that was straight and noble.
He took off his sunglasses, revealing eyes that smiled gently at her.
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Susan's favorability +20.]
[Ding! Plundered 60,000 Destiny Value.]
...
She had originally thought it would be a pot-bellied, stern-faced middle-aged uncle with a gold chain, jumping out to curse at them and demand money violently. That was what happened in movies.
She never expected it to be such a handsome, noble, and dashing older brother, gently asking and even caring if they were hurt, completely ignoring the damage to his beautiful car.
"No... no, we're not hurt."
Susan immediately felt a surge of goodwill and relief. Her heart beat faster, not from fear, but from a strange flutter. She quickly bowed deeply, her ponytail falling forward, apologizing softly with a trembling voice:
"Big brother, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Lin Xiang didn't mean to. There was just a sudden gust of wind, and he lost control. Can you... can you forgive him? We really didn't mean it."
Shen Anyu chuckled softly. He walked over to the side of the car, his movements elegant. He looked at the hideous scratch, running his slender fingers over the jagged metal.
He deliberately furrowed his brow, letting a look of difficulty and pained hesitation appear on his handsome face.
"This..." He sighed. "Such a serious scratch. It pierced through the clear coat and the carbon fiber weave. The repair cost is no small sum."
He looked back at Susan, his eyes softening as if melting at her plea.
"But seeing how sincere you are... If you compensate for the repair, I can forgive him, no problem. I won't make things difficult for students."
As for the sudden gust of wind just now? It was, of course, Shen Anyu's [God-level Telekinesis], perfectly timed to ruin a life.
If this scratch were repaired at an official Bugatti service center (which would likely require shipping the car back to France), the price wouldn't be too high for someone like him. Around three to five million yuan would be about right.
After all, this was a global limited edition convertible Bugatti Veyron, top configuration, valued at over 150 million yuan. The paint alone was mixed with diamond dust.
Such a long scratch, even if repaired, would greatly reduce its value as a collector's item.
It's like a woman's... purity. Even if repaired surgically, it's not the same thing at all. The flaw remains in the history.
Susan's face immediately flushed crimson. She bit her lip until it turned white. Her light pink lips trembled, unable to speak at all.
Given her character and integrity, she was a good girl. How could she possibly say words like 'don't need compensation'? That would be shameless. He was already being so nice by not calling the police.
But compensation?
For such a luxurious car? Susan looked at the gleaming beast. She knew just by thinking about it that the repair cost would definitely be astronomical. It would be a figure that shattered her worldview. Definitely more than Lin Xiang, an ordinary high school student, could afford.
"Compensation..." she whispered, despair filling her chest.
For a moment, Susan was so anxious that tears were welling up in her large, deer-like eyes, swirling around but not falling.
The incomparably beautiful girl, standing by the river, holding her bike, on the verge of tears from anxiety, was especially pitiable. She looked like a fragile flower in a storm, inciting a desire to either protect her or ravage her.
Lin Xiang, standing beside her, instantly couldn't stand it.
His goddess, his white moonlight, the girl he swore to protect, was almost crying in front of him because of his mistake. And she was apologizing to another man! A man who was clearly richer, more handsome, and more mature than him.
Jealousy mixed with shame burned in his gut.
"He's just a rich guy! Why is he making Susan cry?"
Lin Xiang stepped forward, puffing out his chest. He stood in front of Susan, shielding her from Shen Anyu's gaze, and glared angrily at Shen Anyu.
"Hey! How can you, a grown man, bully a girl? Can't you see she's terrified?" Lin Xiang shouted, his voice cracking slightly.
Shen Anyu reined in the gentle smile on his face instantly. The temperature dropped.
He narrowed his eyes, looking down at Lin Xiang from his superior height. His gaze changed from warm sunlight to freezing polar ice. He spoke to Lin Xiang without showing any emotion, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority:
"Your name is Lin Xiang, right?"
"This matter was caused by you. My car was scratched by you because you were showing off, riding with no hands."
Shen Anyu took a step forward, his aura pressing down on the boy.
"That girl is almost crying just to apologize for your mistake. She is bowing for you. She is begging for you."
"You caused the trouble yourself, and you're letting a girl apologize? Are you still a man?"
Every word was a slap to the face.
"If you're a true man, don't hide behind a girl in this matter. Step forward, take responsibility, and bear the consequences yourself. Don't let a woman clean up your mess."
Provoked by Shen Anyu's sharp words, and humiliated in front of the girl he loved, Lin Xiang's face turned red. His blood boiled. The "youthful rebelliousness" and "masculine pride" in his setting took over his rationality.
He immediately patted his chest loudly, trying to look heroic.
"Okay! I'll take responsibility! Who said I was hiding?!"
"Lin Xiang..."
Susan immediately grew anxious. She sensed something was wrong. Her feminine intuition told her this wasn't something Lin Xiang could handle. Her small hand pulled Lin Xiang's sleeve desperately. "Don't..."
But Lin Xiang was filled with masculine pride, high on adrenaline and the desire to impress her. He gently brushed her hand away, patting his chest and saying:
"Susan, you don't need to worry about this. I'm a man! Master said a man stands tall! I'll take responsibility for what I caused!"
He turned to Shen Anyu, chin up.
"Isn't it just paying for repairs? I have savings! Just tell me, how much?"
As soon as he said this, Lin Xiang's heart sank slightly, and his face turned a little pale beneath the bravado. He did a quick mental calculation.
'The repair cost shouldn't be too outrageous, right? It's just a scratch. A scratch on my dad's Honda cost 500 yuan. This car is expensive... maybe ten times that? Fifty times?'
'I have 5,000 yuan in New Year's money. I can borrow another 5,000 from my buddies. Ten thousand yuan should be enough, right? Maybe twenty thousand at most?'
Lin Xiang came from a good family; both his parents were teachers at prestigious schools. He wasn't poor, but he wasn't rich. He thought 20,000 yuan was a sky-high figure.
Shen Anyu's lips curved upwards. A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes—the smile of a hunter watching the trap snap shut.
He reached out and patted Lin Xiang's shoulder. The heavy force made Lin Xiang's knees buckle slightly.
"Hmm, not bad. A true man owns up to his actions. I admire your courage."
Shen Anyu leaned in closer, his voice clear and distinct in the silent riverside air.
"I won't ask for too much compensation from you. I'm a reasonable person."
"How about five million for repairs?"
Five million???
The number hung in the air like a guillotine blade.
This figure stunned Lin Xiang. His eyes bulged, his mouth fell open, and his brain short-circuited completely.
And Susan's face turned pale with shock, her legs giving way...
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